Daily Republican., 1887-12-06
pEoLsNE OF AMERICA Al. sHIPPiNa'
Ap Open Letter 10 president ClevelaG"
From . wtlmingtonian

Ito his Ex ce'lency, Hon. GROVER CLEvR'
LAND, President of tine United
States.
SIR: As one of the delegates of seven
Iappoirted by the American Shipping and
llndustriaI League OF the North Atlantic
tCoast Department at the last meeting
held In Boston on the Goth, 2lsi and I'D
OF October of this year, TO present the re
Isolutions adopted at said meeting and 10
Task YOUR attention TO the subject discuss
led therein, beg TO say that l wish to
discharge my duty in that respect. aHd in
go doing to call your attention, very
Ibrie,ly, to the following facts and asfo TO
the reasons why the bill proposed by the
|, league should meet with your favor, and
also that OF the House OF Representatives
and the Senate.
I First. That from various causes, chiefly
through the operation OF the unfortunate
reciprocal legislation on the subject oil
, shipbuildiDg, which was enacted between
the ysar, OF 1850 and 1855, also owing TO
the destruction Of American shipping dur
Ii, the War of the Rebel ion from 1863
to 1865. American-built ships have prac'
ltically disappeared from our foreign
. trade.
30 that during the space OF time extend.
!, ing from the year 1850 to the present year
we have practically lost the entire G6 per
cent OF the carrying trade OF the world,
which we had at the beginning OF said
. period.
Second. This G6 per cent. hae gone to the
. vessels of other nations. who now mold Il,
a not by virtue of superior skill in seaman
ship or navigation, not BY any financial
advantages they have in the way OF capi-
> tai. not through any peculiarhies In theil
= Irrational laws and regulations regarding
!, ,ltariff and free trade (ior the trade has
lib. en- taken and is held, alike by tariff and
- free trade co2rtries) sbut by the direc
- land effective assistance OF these nation;
y to the vessels themselves, in the samt
:, manner and form contemplated in TIL
Tonnage bill proposed by our league.
By u cans uf this direct assistance tn
70 vessels of these nations are enabled t
!, . carry on the trade with profit to them
~ selves, whereas vessels OF our own natio
without such assistance must engage II
- the trade at a certain loss TO theusely<
=, If they elect " enter into competitio
HI with them
w This is true to such an extent that
" can be demonstrated that were America
~ vessels to be employed IN any foreign liz
% TO be presented to corporation seehin
to establish such line without cost
Ss them for vessels or outiis they could nc
run them with profit against the srosid
y zed lines of England, France, Germany
tn Spain aud lta'y.
Third In view of the facts already &
~ Itorth it will be observed that this ques
l,a ltion stands entirely alone, separate al
a. distinct from questions relating TO Il
~, ca.goes to be carried by vessels or u
ID laws affecting exports and imports
The chici point wouli seem TO be this
~ whether or not it is OF Efficient value
sa us as a nation TO have our fag again se,
~ in the commercial ports OF the world,
No have our manufacturing and commerce.
~ interests in these ports represented by o'
re own citizens, to haIe our products OIL
10 shop and mine brought 70 the notice
the buyers of these nations by Americ
merchants and manufacturers or The
.ar immediate representatives, coming
-, eueh ports in American vessels prepar
a. 10 establish permanent aud mutua
~ profitable re,a ious With them.
1t is also Tor.i1 OF consideratl
,Yg whether or L OF the es-ayit hmenL OF su
- lines would not be followed by part
~, relief from the pressure upon our dom'
". tic mark Is, which seems to occur per-
~ Ideally and which is apparently CAUSED
"a over producti0n.
Fourth Whether our national SELF
- > spect be longer maintained under ,
y, existing order of things. with oar torei
-; commerce swept from the seas aud q
,na merchants aud manufacturers compel
md to depend upon competing foreign natl
,l,a for the facilities for carrying on th
, os trade
% l have tried briefly and imperfectly
{ 10 empuas'|e tne nA.t po'ute =,
gre. t,ie ,,I se'Uloiu1 % S1.s ,,;.i, =
duty as our chief executive to recc
mend the bill proposed bs our league
the favorable consideration of Congress
rely YOUR next message, sincerely pel 'eV
aipg that the enactment of the legislation
ap. posed In that bill would prove OF last
,ne benefit to the whole country. am J
Liar obedient servant, uEo W. STU